October 30, 2013

Morris Claiborne points toward the Giants game on Nov. 24 for his return

Morris Claiborne has never experienced anything like it.

Already playing with a harness to protect the shoulder he dislocated in the season opener against the Giants, Claiborne left the game against the Lions with a hamstring injury. He will miss at least the next two weeks, targeting the Nov. 24 game against the Giants following the Cowboys' bye week.

"This is the first time I’ve ever had to go through injuries like this right here," Claiborne said Wednesday. "I can’t do anything. All I can do is do the things I can do to try to get it healthy."

The second-year cornerback said he has talked to Miles Austin, who has had balky hamstrings the past few years, including this year when he has missed three games. Claiborne said he knows he has to be completely healthy before returning or risk being gimpy for the rest of the year.

"I think that’s a big, big part of it, especially with the hamstrings," he said. "You get those, and it can be even years or months. Miles has been suffering through one for the longest. I’ve been talking with him trying to get all the information I can about it and how does it make him feel. It’s just one of those things. Just get it better, because you don’t want it lingering around and continue to hamper you."

Claiborne said the bye week comes at a good time, giving him an extra week to rehab.

"I think the bye week is definitely going to be a big week for me in terms of getting back," Claiborne said. "If it was up to me, I would do everything I could to play this week, but I know that’s not happening. Probably not much of chance next week as well. Just continue to do the things I can do with rehab, and hopefully I’ll feel better even sooner."